Oil level indicator



Dec. 12, 1933. J, BA K TATTER E A 1,939,094

OIL LEVEL INDI CATOR Original Filed Dec. 17, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet l E x I Inventors A itorney 1933- J. BACKSTATTER ET'AL 1,939,094

OIL LEVEL INDICATOR Original Filed Dec. 17. 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Inventors J fiac/ra fa'ffer' R50 E0 W N By 2mm A tfomey Patented Dec. 12, 1 933 PATENT OFFlC 1,939,094 OIL LEVEL INDICATOR Joseph Backstatter and Fred Rowan, Winfield, Long Island, N. Y.

Refiled for abandoned application Serial No.

326,593, December 17,

1928. This application April 19, 1932. Serial No. 606,265

1 Claim.

This application is filed in the place and stead of-original application filed December 17, 1928,

Serial No. 326,593.

The present invention relates to improvements in electric signals and has reference more particularly to a device for enabling the driver of an automobile to readily ascertain whether or not there is sufficient oil in the crank case of the engine.

One of the important objects of the present invention is to provide a signalling device of the above mentioned character that includes a visual signal such as alight mounted on the instrument board of the vehicle, a float controlled circuit maker being associated with the signalling lamp for normally closing the circuit to the lamp when there is sufficient oil in the crank case, there being also arranged in the circuit a manually op erable switch that normally cuts off the illumination of the lamp but which when thrown on will cause the lamp to light. providing of course that there is suflicient oil in the crank case.

When the oil reaches a predetermined level, the float efiects the breaking of the circuit so that when the manually actuated switch is turned on, the light on the instrument board will fail to function, thus indicating to the operator that the crank case or oil reservoir must be replenished.

r A further object is to provide a signalling device of the above mentioned character that can be readily and easily installed without necessitating any material alterations, said device being at all times positive and'efllcient in its operation, simple 'in construction, inexpensive, strong and durable and further Well adapted to the purpose for which it is designed.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent during the course of the following description when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings.

In the accompanying drawings wherein like reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the same:

Figure 1 is a composite view showing the mechanism arranged in the crank case, and also the signalling means mounted on the instrument board of the vehicle.

Figure 2 is a top plan view of the inverted'ushaped bracket for disposition within the crank case and within which is operable the float, and

Figure 3 is a vertical sectional view through of the crank case or reservoir 1, the ends of the cross bar being secured to the respective arms of the bracket in any suitable manner. A pin 5 extends vertically through the intermediate portion of the cross bar 4 and the crown portion of the U-shaped bracket to provide a guide for the hollow metallic float 6, this float being formed with a central vertical bore 7 to accommodate the pin 5 as clearly suggested in Figure 3.

An arm 8 is attached at its inner end on the bottom of the float 6, the outer end of said arm being operable within a slot 9 formed in the adjacent arm of the bracket 2 and carriedgby the intermediate portion of this arm 8 is the contact 10 that is adapted to cooperate with the stationary contact 11 secured or carried by the headed 30 end of a binding post 12 that extends horizontally through the bracket above the slot 9 and this binding post is insulated from the arm of the bracket as'shown at 13 in Figure 3. A ground wire 14 is connected at one end to the float 6 and l at its opposite end to the top of the bracket 2.

Our improved signal further includes the provision of a binding post 15 that extends through one end of the casing or reservoir 1, the same being insulated therefrom as at16. A rigid wire 17 provides an electrical connection between the binding posts 12 and 15 and this feature is clearly shown in Figure 1.

Also included in the signalling device of the present invention is an electric lamp denoted generally by the numeral 18 that is arranged on the instrument board 19. The ammeter that is arranged on the instrument board in the conventional manner is shown at 20. A wire 21 affords a connection between the binding post 15 and one of the contacts of the double contact lamp 18.

A manually operable switch 22 is also mounted on the instrument board and is operatively conv nected with the lamp 18 by the wire 23 and with the positive binding post 24 of the ammeter 20 by means of the wire 25.

When the oil in the crank case is sufliciently high, the float 6 will manifestly be in a raised po- 'gagement with each other and by turning on the switch 22 the lamp 18 will light, thus indicating to the driver that there is suificient oil in on the pin 5, and at the same time the movable contact 10 will be moved out of engagement with the'stationary contact 11, thus breaking the circuit to the lamp 18 so that should the switch 22 be again turned on, the lamp will not light, thus giving a warning to the operator that the oil level is low in the crank caseand that the same must be replenished. I

The'provisio-n of a signalling device of .the above mentioned character will obviate the necessity of the driver having to leave his seat and inspect the usual oil gage associated with the crank case and furthermore the signalling device described above and disclosed in the drawings will at all times be positive and er"- ficient in its operation.

By reason of the terminal or contact 10 being disposed at the bottom ofthe float 16, it will be 'noted that the points 10 and 11 may contact in oil. From this it follows that the contacts or terminals 10 and 11 make and break contacts in the oil or liquid, this being advantageous because it obviates pitting of the contacts or terminals and also obviates arcing.

71,939,094 V 7 While we have shown the preferred embodi-' ment of our invention it is to be understood that minor changes in the size, shape and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without de-. parting from the spirit of the invention and the scope of the appended claim.

Having thus described the invention, what we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is In a circuit maker and breaker of the class 7 described, a liquid container, at substantially inverted U-shap-ed bracket, the free ends of the arms thereof being disposed laterally and secured to the bottom of the container and oneof the being provided with a longitudinal guide slot, a binding post extendingthrough one of the arms of the bracketadjacent the upper end oithe guide slot, a stationary contact carried by the inner end of the binding post, a cross bar extending between the arms of the bracketadjacentthe free ends thereof, a vertical arranged between the top of the bracket andv the cross bar, a'fic-at arranged for vertical 'movement on said and a contact arm attached to the fioat for engagement with'the aforementioned stationary contact, said arm having its free end disposed for longitudinal travel in the guide slot. j V

JOSEPH BACKSTATTER. FRED ROWAN. 

